About

The Association of Malaysia’s Maritime Professionals or the IKHTISAS KELAUTAN MALAYSIA (IKMAL) is a non-governmental organisation for Malaysia’s seagoing and shore-based officers holding certificates of competency (CoC) of any grade, pilot licences issued by authorised Malaysian agencies or appropriate maritime-affiliated degrees. Those holding other degrees, but, who have worked for a substantial duration within the maritime industry may also be considered for membership.

Established as the “INSTITUT” KELAUTAN MALAYSIA in 1985 admitting as Ordinary Members only the highest-level officers (holding Master Class 1 Foreign-Going Vessels or Chief Engineer Class 1 Foreign-Going CoC), it then aspired to be a body furthering their professional interests. It conducted tea-talk sessions, seminars and conferences with the aim of enhancing their knowledge, skills and competencies. It also regularly published journals containing articles of professional interests.

With the advent of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, IKMAL amended its constitution in 2014 substituting the word ‘INSTITUT’ with ‘IKHTISAS’, accepting CoC holders of any grade as Ordinary Members and made the furtherance of the interests and welfare of its members as its primary objective.

With that, IKMAL is now acknowledged as an organisation that could be consulted by appropriate authorities on matters relating to the betterment of seagoing and shore-based officers as well as any other issues related to the human aspect of the maritime industry.

Initially known as Insititut Kelautan Malaysia, the name was changed to Ikhtisas Kelautan Malaysia on 5th November 2014 (as approved by the Registrar of Societies, Malaysia).